The Oboe Masterclass is a two-day intensive course for oboists aged approximately 12 to 28, bringing together players at different stages of development in a focused and supportive environment. The program includes two individual lessons, group sessions focused on technical exercises, and individual coaching on selected orchestral excerpts.

Complementing this, focused technique sessions address practice strategies, warm-ups, tone production, and performance preparation, with reed-making introduced in an accessible and flexible way.

Optional extended study sessions offer more advanced players the opportunity to explore orchestral excerpts and solo work pieces in greater depth, while others consolidate their learning through supported practice. Opportunities to explore the cor anglais are available for those with access to the instrument, integrated into the Advanced Studies sessions.

For more information, please contact: 0876552654, [email protected]

Part of the “Masterclasses” series

Alison Teale is Co-Principal Oboe of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Oboe at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

Whilst studying at Guildhall, she was appointed Co-Principal Oboe of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Winning the Isle of Wight International Oboe Competition led to her debut at the Purcell Room and a number of concerto broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. Alison has appeared as a soloist on numerous broadcasts for BBC Radio 3, notably performing Quiet City at the opening night of the BBC Proms during lockdown from the Royal Albert Hall, in a broadcast seen by audiences worldwide.

Following her return to the UK, Alison became Principal Cor Anglais with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales before moving to the same position with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, later becoming Co-Principal Oboe.

Alongside her orchestral career, Alison is deeply committed to education and has been Professor of Oboe at Guildhall School of Music & Drama since 2010. She is also a regular coach for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and is frequently invited to give masterclasses throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. From September 2026, Alison will also join the faculty of the Sofia Art Institute and will lead an international oboe course in Sofia.

Alison regularly performs as a soloist and chamber musician and freelances with many of the UK’s leading orchestras. A proud Howarth of London artist, she has featured on numerous orchestral and chamber recordings, including her solo album Cor. Recordings of music by Edward Gregson for cor anglais and string quartet are regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Alison has also appeared on Woman’s Hour and presented an episode of Inside Music.

She can additionally be heard on a wide range of film soundtracks and television broadcasts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and is particularly passionate about mentoring and supporting young musicians as they transition into the profession.

Stefani Trendafilova demonstrated her musical talent from an early age, which led her to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, United Kingdom. There she studied with the renowned professors Alison Teale — Associate Principal Oboe and Solo English Horn of the BBC Symphony Orchestra — and Gordon Hunt, internationally recognized as one of today’s leading oboists.

During her studies in the United Kingdom, Stefani won First Prize in the English horn competition of Howarth of London. She also participated in numerous masterclasses with distinguished musicians such as David Walter, Elaine Douvas, Clara Dent-Bogányi, and others.

Stefani has performed with numerous orchestras in the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and other European countries. This symphonic experience has shaped her broad musical outlook and created a rich palette of expressive means in her solo career. Recently, she performed the premiere of the Oboe Concerto by Bulgarian composer Kiril Lambov together with Sinfonietta Sofia and conductor Georgi Dimitrov.

After successfully graduating in 2024, Stefani returned to Bulgaria. She was appointed principal oboe of Sinfonietta Sofia, and in April 2025 she won the competition for the position of second oboe and English horn in the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.

Stefani is also a member of the trio ZheSeZe, with which the musicians not only perform concerts, but also visit classrooms to inspire and bring joy to younger generations. The idea originated during her studies at Guildhall, where she studied pedagogy and later taught music according to the Zoltán Kodály method at the North London Conservatoire.

In addition, her education at Guildhall enabled Stefani not only to master the oboe, but also to study the English horn and Baroque oboe, and to participate in ensembles covering a wide range of musical styles, including avant-garde music, big band, Baroque ensemble, opera, and symphony orchestra. Alongside performance, she also received extensive training in reed making from some of the leading specialists in Europe.